5th International Music Festival of Aigai

“The Lyre along the Paths of Alexander the Great, from Macedonia and the Bosporus to India”

Centered on lyres and bowed instruments that connect the lands traversed by Alexander the Great, the 5th International Music Festival of Aigai is organized by KEPA Municipality of Veria, in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Imathia – Archaeology at the Heart of Macedonia – and the Municipality of Naoussa, under the artistic direction of Christos Kaliontzidis.

With the common denominator of the Arabic-Persian word “kaman” (bow), the nominal ancestor of most of the bowed instruments of the East, the festival traces a musical and geographical journey from Macedonia and the Bosporus to India.

As artistic director Christos Kaliontzidis notes, the true protagonists of this original approach are the musicians themselves. Distinguished artists from Greece and abroad come to embody, through their “lyres,” the history, culture, diversity, mythical achievements, and passions of the peoples of three continents. Legacies that stretch deep into the centuries, shaped by the great melting pot of civilizations, religions, eclectic alliances, and fierce conflicts, remind us that our shared musical experiences and common roots transcend geographical distances and cultural differences.

Featured Artists:

• Ross Daly (Cretan lyra with sympathetic strings, tarhu, Afghan rebab)
• Kelly Thoma (soprano Cretan lyra)
• Chrysanthi Gika (Istanbul lyra / kemençe)
• Christos Kaliontzidis (five-string Pontic lyra, Cappadocian kemené, violin)
• Thomas Meleteas (oud)
• Foivos Apostolidis (percussion: darbuka, frame drums, Indian tabla)

The 5th International Music Festival of Aigai is held under the auspices and with the financial support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.

Festival Program

Wednesday, September 17, 8:30 p.m.

A Journey of Glory and Bows

Polycentric Museum of Aigai – Royal Tombs (courtyard), Vergina

From Northern Greece heading eastward, every musical tradition along Alexander’s route features at least one bowed instrument. From the lyra, kemençe, kemené, kamancha, and kabak kemane to the Indian sarod, a wide musical geography inscribes in capital letters the Arabic-Persian word kaman (bow), the connecting link between them. Related sounds that interact, survive, and most importantly, flourish over centuries, offering audiences novel, unique experiences filled with images, emotions, and fragrances. This performance seeks to unravel the thread of a story that begins with the familiar Greek lyras and extends to the depths of Persia and distant India, with the bows of the performers as oars for the journey.

Traditional melodies and songs from Alexander’s path, as well as contemporary compositions that resonate with the theme, will be presented, sustaining the audience’s engagement until the very last note.

Thursday, September 18, 8:30 p.m.

Persian Music – A Contemporary Dialogue with a Great Tradition

Ancient Theater of Mieza (Naoussa)

The magnificent Persian Empire, upon its dissolution, left many cultural legacies still evident today. In countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq, both folk and classical Persian music are studied and performed, with the Radif form as their central reference. This intricate form includes orchestral compositions, rhythmic patterns, improvisations, and vocal sections, providing the foundation upon which each master builds their personal expression.

This concert will follow the evolutionary course of the Radif, reinterpreting it beyond its classical boundaries, enriched by familiar sounds, instruments of the Eastern Mediterranean, and the high virtuosity of the performing musicians.